Ski instructor's warning backfires

A ski instructor was buried in an avalanche while trying to demonstrate the risks of skiing off-piste in Austria.

Avalanche warnings and poor visibility led Guenther Muehlenbach, 28, to take his ski group in Vorarlberg to the edge of the slope to explain the dangers of crossing into the off-piste area.

Ski student Alphons Koflach, 16, said: "Guenther was standing there, just off-piste, telling us never to leave the controlled area because of avalanche risks.

"Suddenly there was a loud rumbling and he disappeared in a cloud of snow."

Muehlenbach was picked up by the avalanche and dumped into a 200-foot deep ravine before being buried under 60 feet of snow.

His students called the mountain rescue team who were able to dig the ski teacher out in time.

Muehlenbach is now being treated for shock and hypothermia.

http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_1697097.html?menu=

Submitted on 01/25/2006

Submitted by: Anonymous
Reference: www.ananova.com 25-1-2006

Copyright © 2006 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Honorable Mention
I really love this story, but I'm a bit trepidant because of the news source. I could not find a reference to "Gunter Muehlenbach" anywhere on the web! Though there doesn't seem to be any glaring stupidity on the part of the instructor,it's funny enough to meet the criteria of a "classic" HM, though it may not come up to the standards we adhere to these days. I will vote neutral just in case this appears somewhere else on the web.

Jack said:
Maybe Toss: Other
I'm going to vote against this, because it sounds more like a simple case of being in the wrong place at the wrong time than a case of truly Darwin-grade stupidity.

Charles said:
Maybe Toss: Other
It does sound like someone being in the wrong place at the wrong time. I can't quite see this as sufficient stupidity as the instructor must have been only barely across the boundary line... a distance that would not be seen as endangering him.

Jorge said:
Definitely Keep: Honorable Mention
The best of all examples for his students

Greg said:
Maybe Toss: No Self-Selection
I don't know. I feel kind of sorry for the guy. It sounds like he was standing JUST off piste and was the victim of an unfortunate accident to me.

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